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Jill Atwood ReportingPatriotism is as high as it's ever been right now in Utah and that was never more evident than this past July 4th weekend as thousands of people gave thanks to our men and women in uniform.
One moment in particular at Provo's Stadium of Fire was so emotional, so unpredictable, it caught everyone off guard.
One Utah soldier really pulled a fast one on the crowd, and on one family in particular, in a good way. For those who were there, it's probably something they talked about the next day.
Chris Jacobs is packing up his camis for a while. The 19-year old Army Reservist is finally home from Afghanistan. And today he's hanging out with his four younger brothers and sisters who are still having a hard time believing he's real.
Last Friday night the Jacob's family was invited to Stadium of Fire to share Chris's story. He'd been gone for months, but little did they know he had arrived home the day before and was just waiting to make his grand entrance.
Chris Jacobs: "When they started to talking to my family I was kneeling down behind the white one and when they started talking to my little brother Marty I was standing on the white stage and just started walking."
Emily Jacobs, Chris's little Sister: "Shock and disbelief. I had no idea; it was incredible. I couldn't, I had to keep blinking just because I didn't think he was really there. It was crazy."
Chris' family wasn't the only one in tears; it seemed the whole crowd was overcome. The reunion between mom and son gave everyone goose bumps.
Chris Jacobs: "She definitely was trying to strangle me; she was pretty mad that I didn't tell her, and my grandma was mad and everybody was mad that they didn't know."
Chris went from soldier overseas to instant celebrity on the home front.
Adam Jacobs/Chris's Little Brother: "Every time someone would stop us and we were going into portal like four or five cops started cheering they just started cheering and clapping and everyone would stop and shake his hand and say welcome home. It was really cool."
Chris Jacobs: "I joined for the red white and blue. I always wanted to be in the military and serve in the military. I'm glad I went and I’d do it again."
Chris is going to spend some time with his family for the next couple months, and then he will be leaving on his mission.
